After being ravaged for the past year by Covid-19 science has come through with two vaccines for the novel coronavirus. It has been over 320 days since the first case of Covid-19 arrived in Oklahoma.

The two vaccines that are available are The Pfizer vaccine and the Moderna vaccine.  Both have over 90% effectiveness rates after two doses and are approved by the CDC. 

The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines function differently than other highly effective vaccines. Both are mRNA vaccines, meaning they do not contain a weakened or dead version of the live virus present in their ingredients. Covid-19 vaccines accomplish this by introducing messenger RNA into the body’s system and attempting to produce Covid-19 antibodies to protect the body before the virus is present in the body. The traditional offensive head on attack and mutation of the original virus is not used; these vaccines build defense to a virus that is not yet present. 

This type of vaccine is not as common as the average vaccine for things like the flu, this vaccine is an mRNA vaccine. This means that instead of introducing a weakened version of the virus into the body, it introduces a messenger RNA into our ribosomes. The messenger RNA introduces the SARs-coV-2 virus codes into the ribosomes and it allows the body to create proteins that specifically defends the body against that virus.

The Pfizer vaccine is administered in two doses taken 21 days apart in the upper arm muscle. According to the CDC, Pfizer is most highly-recommended vaccine for the public and has an effectiveness of 95%. The vaccine is available for people over the age of 16 and is being administered in stages to people in steps of importance. Along with the Moderna vaccine that was produced and approved by the CDC, Oklahoma received over 100,000 vaccines for Covid-19. The CDC has said the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine is 95% effective. 

The Moderna vaccine is administered twice 28 days apart and is also in two doses. The vaccine is also available for anybody over 16 and administered in the upper arm muscle similar to the Pfizer vaccine. The Moderna vaccine is 94.5% effective and is available for 18 and older.

While both vaccines require refrigeration, the Pfizer vaccine requires temperatures of minus 70 degrees Celsius for shipment and storage, creating logistical problems with distributing the doses. The Moderna only requires a temperature of minus 20 degrees Celsius, similar to a standard freezer. 

Oklahoma has a administration plan in place for the vaccines. Vaccines have been administered to nursing homes and to medical professionals, and in some counties Phase 2 citizens have started receiving their vaccinations. Scientists hopes for plan three,

“Thousands of people will receive the vaccine to test widespread effectiveness, side effects and safety.”

Information And statistics sited in this article were found At the CDC official website

For statistics on Oklahoma’s Covid-19 cases and death actively visit The Covid Act Now site

For more information on Oklahoma’s Covid-19 vaccine administration plan at The Oklahoma Department for Health